The New Protectionism

Never before in history has such all -but-universal lip-service been paid to the principles of free trade. Academic economists, Right or Left, old or “new,” render homage to them. The statesmen of the West all profess to want at least “freer” trade. Since World War II they have called countless international conferences, and passed numberless pious resolutions, to bring this end to pass. Yet never before in history have so many countries erected so many obstacles in the path of international trade.

The case for free trade is now so obvious that one is half ashamed to state it. And it has already been stated so brilliantly by the classical economists that a modern advocate finds it difficult to avoid the temptation either to quote or to plagiarize.

HH

About the Author

Henry Hazlitt

Featured Tags

Never before in history has such all -but-universal lip-service been paid to the principles of free trade. Academic economists, Right or Left, old or “new,” render homage to them. The statesmen of the West all profess to want at least “freer” trade. Since World War II they have called countless international conferences, and passed numberless pious resolutions, to bring this end to pass. Yet never before in history have so many countries erected so many obstacles in the path of international trade.

The case for free trade is now so obvious that one is half ashamed to state it. And it has already been stated so brilliantly by the classical economists that a modern advocate finds it difficult to avoid the temptation either to quote or to plagiarize.